Wrist & hand decisions — 2016

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's original claim was denied in 1994, and no additional evidence has been provided within one year of that decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his residuals from left distal radius fractures and associated scars, as well as to assess whether his headaches are related to service-connected anxiety or in-service meningitis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his employment is full-time and he has maintained it throughout the period on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional right wrist disability was not caused by VA treatment and surgery performed in September 2000 for a ganglion cyst right wrist excision.

The Board found that the Veteran's left wrist tendonitis with CTS more nearly approximated moderate incomplete paralysis of the minor median nerve, warranting a 20 percent rating. The claim for higher ratings was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a higher rating for his service-connected right wrist disability. The case is REMANDED to issue an SOC on the latter issue.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current neurological disability of the upper extremities, including carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment, is likely due to his use of crutches for his service-connected bilateral leg disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on exposure to chemicals and/or environmental hazards in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder and Parkinson's disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hand disability.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic cough and assigned a 20 percent rating for the back disability. Other disabilities have been rated based on their specific criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hand and wrist disabilities were not incurred in service or due to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claim for an initial rating for the left shoulder disability was also denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction secondary to a psychiatric disability and tinea pedis, have been granted. The initial rating assigned is 30 percent for dyssomnia.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, as the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of a deceased appellant's claim.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain private medical records from Doctors of Internal Medicine and South Denver Cardiology Associates, which were not previously obtained. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his right wrist injury will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a skin condition were reopened, but the Board found new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's IBS was granted an initial rating of 30% prior to February 10, 2014, and in excess of 50% from that date.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including updated employment and educational history, VA treatment records, and a comprehensive examination to determine the severity of her service-connected disabilities and their impact on her employability.